Synthetic Biology: A bit of rebranding, or something new and inspiring?

A new approach in biology is emerging and gathering a broad band of advocates. Synthetic biology aims to improve our abilities to engineer biological molecules, assemblies and systems; to design and develop biomimetic systems; and to apply these to useful ends. It brings together the biological and physical sciences, applying engineering and mathematical principles. Currently, a number of di!erent approaches are being explored in synthetic biology, which are meeting with di!erent levels of success. In the present article, we outline these e!orts in general terms giving just a few ex amples for each; unfortunately, space does not for allow in-depth reviews, for which we apologize. is formed from the synergy of developing concepts, knowledge and technologies drawn from other diverse disciplines, including bioengineering, conventional engineering, protein and nucleic acid design and systems biology. Synthetic biology is also di!erentiated by a new fearlessness in setting ambitious and groundbreaking research targets. To give just a few diverse examples of the wave of ambitious goal-driven projects that are being undertaken, researchers are: chemically synthesizing whole genomes for viruses, bacteria and